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Ireland: Whistle blown on price-fixing newspaper groups

INDEPENDENT Newspapers and The Irish Times have been forcing retailers to sell their titles at artificially high levels, according to a monopoly watchdog.

The newspapers have agreed to end the illegal practices after they faced legal action issuing from a 15-month investigation by the Competition Authority.

The authority published two decisions against the Irish Independent, the Sunday Independent, the Evening Herald, and The Irish Times. As a result, Independent Newspapers and The Irish Times have agreed to inform newsagents that the cover prices of their titles are only recommended and sellers are free to set their own prices.

Both publishers will carry a notice on their front pages stating that the value printed on the cover is a “recommended retail price”.

The Competition Authority said that it initiated its investigation in autumn 2002 into the newspapers and periodical industry “based on information it received from a government department”.